Nelson Acosta
HAVANA (Reuters) – Havana residents watched from shore on Saturday as Russian warships arrived for the second time in as many months, a go to Cuba described as routine.
Cuban authorities fired pictures into the air in greeting, whereas curious fishermen watched from Havana’s seaside promenade because the boats headed towards the bay. Russian residents had been additionally among the many few who rose early to look at the fleet arrive.
The Baltic Fleet’s patrol ship “Novostrahim”, coaching ship “Smolny” and assist ships are scheduled to set off on Tuesday.
A short assertion from Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces described their arrival as routine.
The State Division and Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
In June, a Russian nuclear submarine, frigates and assist ships additionally demonstrated Moscow’s capabilities within the port of Havana, lower than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Florida.
U.S. officers say tensions between the U.S. and Russia have elevated since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, whereas Russian naval exercise, albeit routine within the Atlantic, has been exacerbated by U.S. assist for Ukraine.
In the meantime, relations between Chilly Battle allies Russia and Cuba have improved considerably because the communist-ruled nation struggles with an financial disaster it blames largely on U.S. sanctions.
Excessive-level contacts between the 2 international locations have reached the best degree for the reason that collapse of their former benefactor, the Soviet Union, and Cuban President Diaz-Canel has visited Moscow 4 instances.
Russia has shipped oil, flour and a rising variety of vacationers to the cash- and commodity-starved Caribbean nation as residents endure every day energy outages and different distress, resulting in sporadic protests and document migration.
Ana Garces, a 78-year-old retiree, informed Reuters she remembered the Soviet Union being the one nation to assist Cuba in the course of the 1962 missile disaster, when the world was on the point of nuclear struggle and Cuba was at odds with Washington. tensions reached their peak.
“We’re so grateful,” she mentioned. “Why do not we settle for it with open arms? That is friendship, and all types of ships are available in right here.”
Her husband, retiree Rolando Perez, 71, added: “It reveals how different international locations assist us and takes away a number of the world’s perceptions of our nation.”
